Psalm 50:7–14
7 Hear, O my people, and I will speak; O Israel, and I will testify against thee: I am God, even thy God. 8 I will not reprove thee for thy sacrifices Or thy burnt offerings, to have been continually before me. 9 I will take no bullock out of thy house, Nor he goats out of thy folds. 10 For every beast of the forest is mine, And the cattle upon a thousand hills. 11 I know all the fowls of the mountains: And the wild beasts of the field are mine. 12 If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: For the world is mine, and the fulness thereof. 13 Will I eat the flesh of bulls, Or drink the blood of goats? 14 Offer unto God thanksgiving; And pay thy vows unto the most High:
(I am reposting this one because this is such an important lesson that I have learned in both my earthly relationships as well as my relationship with my Lord)
Ok, ladies, humor me for just a while. Imagine that it is your birthday.
I know that you said you didn’t want your man to give you anything, but we both know that isn’t entirely true, don’t we?
You would like some gesture of affection, something thoughtful, something that says, “I love you” without breaking the bank.
Am I right?
Either way, pretend with me for a while.
Your fella feels the need to give you something for your big day and so he gets you a present. You appreciate the gift for a while. A short time later, he throws that present into your face attempting to use it as leverage to get something he wants.
“You owe me,” ah he doesn’t say that, but that is what he means.
What is your response?
Are you still appreciative of the gift?
Didn’t it mean more when it was a gesture of love before he ruined it with his attached expectations?
I think I know your answer.
I know because I have been on the wrong end of this scenario. I have been the constant negotiator in the relationship, trying to leverage my gestures and gifts.
I have learned that when it comes to what should be love-based relationships,
Quid pro quo is a no, no, no!
“Quid pro quo” is a Latin phrase that essentially means a favor for a favor.
Quid pro quo is a no, no, no!
Giving must be motivated out of appreciation and love, or it ceases to be giving.
Ok, one more detail about this jerk of a guy you picked, he used your money to buy it anyway.
You had some cash tucked away in your closet for a rainy day, and that rascal took and used it to buy the gift.
That rascal was bargaining with something that was already yours from the beginning.
Are you mad at him?
He is a real turkey, huh?
Now, what does all that have to do with this Psalm?
Asaph, the God-inspired author of this Psalm, has pictured God in a courtroom with everyone called to observe. He has brought charges against his people, but why?
It seems that they are serving and sacrificing to God but out of improper motive, believing that their giving has obligated God. They assume that he must bless them because of their benevolence.
They believed that since they have sacrificed for him, God now owes them.
So, what does God say?
Psalm 50:9 I will take no bullock out of thy house, Nor he goats out of thy folds
In other words, the Lord says, “if that is your motive, then I don’t want your gift!”
“I won’t accept your sacrifice!”
Pay attention to what he says next.
Psalm 50:10-1110 For every beast of the forest is mine, And the cattle upon a thousand hills. 11 I know all the fowls of the mountains: And the wild beasts of the field are mine.
God is reminding them that the lambs they gave were never theirs from the beginning. They had given him his own property; He owns the cattle on a thousand hills.
What we think we possess is just borrowed and could quickly be repossessed. Indeed, we can’t expect our God to owe us something because we surrendered what was already his?
Next, he reminds them that he doesn’t need what they have offered. He isn’t hungry or in need.
Psalm 50:12-13 12If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: For the world is mine, and the fulness thereof. 13Will I eat the flesh of bulls, Or drink the blood of goats?
Well, what does he want then? What offering will he accept?
Psalm 50:14 Offer unto God thanksgiving; And pay thy vows unto the most High:
Our Lord wants the offerings of his people to come from a heart of gratitude and not be an attempt to obligate him. We should be generous with God because what we have is his anyway. We must never forget; the Lord doesn’t owe us; we owe him!
This concept is true concerning our stuff, but it is especially true of our salvation.
If you think that doing good will obligate God to save you, then you are mistaken. He wants our service to come from gratitude, not some attempt at a transaction. He will not accept it!
Ephesians 2:8–9 8For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast.
When it comes to our love-based relationships, especially with God, remember what we said earlier
Quid pro quo is a no, no, no!
God does not operate that way with us and will not accept that kind of relationship in return.
Come as you are. Accept God’s gift of salvation with no strings attached and then serve him with all that he allows you to steward for him. Serve out of appreciation and make sure there are no strings.
Remember, Quid pro quo is a no, no, no!
My 2021 Bible Reading Plan
April 22, 2021